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Category: Publication
India’s gender-responsive policies during COVID-19
Despite the Indian government’s gender-focused relief measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, women beneficiaries faced issues as they tried to access and utilize such measures. Issues with access and capability around digital communication and inherent social norms persist as two important factors that intensify the challenges that #women face in using formal financial services.
Oct 16, 2021
A review of the effectiveness of India’s Direct Benefit Transfer system during COVID-19: Lessons for India and the world
This paper examines the use of existing cash transfer programs and the payment infrastructure used for the timely delivery of PMGKY benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic in India. Additionally, the paper draws insights from PMGKY beneficiaries’ cash withdrawal/access preferences and experiences during the pandemic.
Oct 13, 2021
Abhishek Jain, Nikita Dhingra, Noel Johns and Ritesh Rautela
Beyond the barriers of affordability: An analysis of India’s cooking fuel support program under the COVID-19 assistance package
India responded to the COVID-19 crisis by announcing several relief measures under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY). As part of PMGKY, 80 million poor women enrolled under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), received cash transfers in their bank accounts to purchase liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). This paper assess the program’s efficacy and the experience of beneficiaries in receiving advance transfers into their bank accounts and purchasing LPG refills during and after the lockdown.
Oct 11, 2021
Efficacy of MGNREGA in mitigating the loss in income and unemployment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic
This paper evaluates the efficacy of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in reversing the surge of unemployment in the country during COVID-19 and presents key takeaways from India’s experience in handling the livelihood crisis.
Oct 7, 2021
Efficacy of India’s food security response during COVID-19
The paper assesses the efficacy of India’s food security response during COVID-19 pandemic. It details out field level insights and also covers the lessons learned from the PDS experience during the pandemic.
Oct 5, 2021
Making Elephants Dance – A case study on shared agent banking in Uganda
Based on research commissioned by FSD Uganda, this report documents the need for shared agent banking and how it became operative in Uganda. The report also highlights milestones and challenges in Uganda’s experience with shared agent banking and the lessons learned.
Sep 14, 2021